Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  coolest - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By meteor allen - December 15 - 10:00 am

  you better buy one

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  Someday is Now! - 2000 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Retfla2 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I have admired the Mercedes Roadster since it was a 190SL. Finally decided this was the time. I am not a sportscar person. This car is a luxury car that happens to look sporty. Perfect! Plenty of power to spare and love the handling on corners. Mercedes service has been great!

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  how good it is - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By badboy aka bm - December 15 - 10:00 am

  it has a great performance and fast good mileage but is a gas guggler

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  My CL600 - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
  By Michael E. - December 15 - 10:00 am

  This is my third CL600; I have had a 2001, 2002, 2003- I love these cars, I dont know what Id drive if they didnt exist!

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  More than expected - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Audrey Parks - December 15 - 10:00 am

  We fully expected a good car. We got a great one. Its fun to drive, has a lot of "curb appeal" and, as an unexpected plus-gas milage is great. And we dont know how the top could be easier to operate. Overall it makes driving an adventure.

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  S 430 -The greatest - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By 1namil - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for 18 months. It is the most perfect automobile I have ever owned.I have searched, ever since I have had it, for an imperfection. I have never found one.I am a senior. I may be just lucky but I dont think so.The ride is the best. I have not changed the wheels from the factory installed. I fear this may change the ride. The GPS Nav.system is outstanding. I am a retired test pilot having used these sysems for many years in large jet aircraft. I first looked at this system with a jaundest eye. But after using it I am extremely impressed with the professional performance.

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  Excellent - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By Dr. Naik - December 15 - 10:00 am

  it is the best car

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  best vehical purchace of my life - 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By rsb - December 15 - 10:00 am

  amazing speed and power, almost as fast (0-100) as my ferrari 2000 360 spyder

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  arismans second ml - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By elaine arisman - December 15 - 10:00 am

  this is our second Ml now and I are in love with the car!!! My husband suggested we look at other cars and I said absolutely not. We put 50,000 miles on our first one in less than 2 years and it wonderful, But, most of all, the service we get from Isringhausen Imports is what keeps us coming back for a mercedes!!!!

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  C Class Review - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By Bunny103 - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car and it has been nothing but excellent. I love the slick styling, excellent ride, the nice rims and great safety. Its a great car!